Collar clasp



Jan. 9, 1934. w. H. SCHOONMAKER 1,942,9Q4

COLLAR CLASP Filed Dec. 12. 1931 INVENTOR RNEYS Patented Jan. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLAR CLASP William H. Schoonmaker, Montclair, N. J. Application December 12,1931. Serial N01 580,567

3 Claims.

This invention relates to collar clasps and more particularly to clasps of the type commonly used for engagement with soft'collars and positioned under a necktie.

Heretofore, several types of tie clasps or pins the result that the collar becomes wrinkled.

Moreover, with devices of this character there is no provision made for preventing slipping of the device relative to the collar, which slipping will take place to some extent, regardless of the tension of the spring members.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple collar clasp, inexpensive to manufacture, and eificient in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collar clasp which is readily engageable' with and disengageable from a collar.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collar clasp which, when engaged with a collar, is held substantially immovable relative thereto without causing mutilation of the part of the collar in engagement therewith.

According to the present invention the faults set forth hereinbefore are overcome in the following manner: The device consists simply of a bar, preferably flat, which bar may becurved or not as occasion may demand. Secured to one side of the bar are a pair of tabs, each of which carry short gripping members which will engage the material of the collar. These tabs are naturally secured to the bar near the respective ends thereof. In one form of the invention the gripping member carrying tabs are formed as an integral part of a leaf spring which is secured to the bar by means of pivotal connec-. tions spaced a short distance from each end of the bar. These pivotal connections are of such character that the length of leaf spring therebetween is greater than the length of bar therebetween, with the result that the spring either presses the tabs toward the bar or else holds the same away therefrom.

In another form of the invention the tabs near each end of the bar and being provided with parts extending toward the center of the bar. Coiled springs are wound around the pin used in' the pivotal connection in such manner as to normally force the tabs toward the bar. By pressing on the extensions of each tab, gripping member carrying parts thereof may be forced away from the bar, permitting engagement of the clasp with the collar.

Other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent by reference to the following detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of the same, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention with the gripping member carrying tabs forced away from the bar to permit engagement with the collar;

Figure 2 is a similar view of the same device, with the gripping member carrying tabs forced toward the bar;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1, the arrangement being illustrated in reversed position;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 of the $0 device, as illustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the device as shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a modification of the invention, and

Figure '7 is an enlarged section taken substantially on the lines 7-7 of Figure 6.

Referring now to the drawing and particularly to Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, 10 indicates a bar forming a part of a collar clasp, the bar in this instance being substantially fiat. It is not essential, however, that the bar be flat since, as conditions may warrant, the same may be slightly curved or given any other desired configuration. Extending from one side of the bar 10 and spaced from the ends thereof are pairs of bearing members .11. A leaf spring 12 has bearing members 13, through which passes a pin 14, the pins 14 also passing through the bearing members 11, thereby forming pivotal connections between the leaf spring 12 and the bar 10.

Portions 15 at each end of the leaf spring 12 form tabs which are provided with short gripping members 16, extending toward thebar 10.

In order that the tabs 15 may be forced toward the bar 10 or away therefrom, the expanse of leaf spring 12 between the pivotal connections thereof is greater than the expanse of bar 10 between the same points. As a result of this arrangement the leaf 12 may be flexed so that its central portion presses against the bar 10, thereby moving the tabs 15 away from the same bar, or so that the middle part is bowed outwardly from the bar 10 with the tabs forced toward the same. The respective positions of the leaf 12 are shown in detail in Figures 3 and 4.

The operation and use of the tabs, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, is substantially as follows: When it is desired to engage the device with the respective ends of a collar, the tabs 15 are forced away from the bar 10 into the position shown in Figure 3. The device is then ready to be positioned relative to the collar. As soon as the clasp has been properly positioned relative to the collar, it may be locked thereto by merely pressing one or both ends of the leaf 12. A slight bit of pressure applied to one or both of the tabs 15 will serve to cause the middle part of the leaf to be flexed into the position shown in Figure 4. In this position, the members 16 will grip the material of the collar sufliciently to hold the clasp substantially immovable relative to the collar. The pins, however, do not completely penetrate the material of the collar so that when the clasp is disengaged therefrom by merely applying pressure to the middle part of leaf 12, no unsightly holes are left in the collar. Moreover, the penetration of the pins into the collar is not of such character as would cause wear of the collar to any appreciable extent...

In the embodiment .of the invention shown in Figures 6 and 7, use is made of a bar 20 of appearance similar to bar 10. The bar 20, however, may be a composite bar made up of a solid portion 21, together with an inlay 22. The solid part has extending therefrom near each end bearing standards 23. Tabs 24 provided with bearing standards 25 are pivotally mounted to the bar by means of pins 26 extending through the standards 23 and 25. The tabs 24 are provided with gripping members 27 similar to members 16 before described. These tabs 24 have prolongations 28 extending toward the center of the bar andformed integrally with the tabs themselves. Springs 29 are coiled around each pin 26 with the ends of the spring pressing respectively against the prolongations '28 and the bar 20.

The operation and use of the modification shown in Figures 6 and 7 is substantially as follows: When it is desired to engage the clasp with a collar the two prolongations 28 are pressed toward the bar 20 (as shown in dotted lines in Figure 6), in which position the points or tabs of the collar may be inserted between the bar 20 and the two tabs 24. When the collar is properly positioned, the prolongations 28 are released, at

which time the two springs 29 force the prolongations outwardly, thereby pressing the tabs 24 into contact with the material of the collar. When such contact is made the members 2'7 grip the collar in the same manner as the members 16 of the other embodiment of the invention. When it is desired to remove the clasp, it is necessary only to reverse the operation; that is, to press the prolongations 28 toward the bar 20-, thereby releasing the gripping members from the collar.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention in either embodiment constitutes an improved collar clasp which is readily engageablewith and disengageable from a collar; which does not mutilate the collar to any appreciable extent; and which will not slip rela- 'tive to the collar once it has been engaged therewith. Due to the fact that the portion of the clasp bar in engagement with the outside of the collar is smooth, the collar is not made unsightly, since the smooth bar will slip easily over the collar surface. It will be apparent that the invention is capable of further modification, in view of which it is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments but only by the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A clasp of the character described comprising a bar, a leaf'member pivotally secured to said bar in such manner as to form a spring, the ends of which constitute tabs resiliently forced toward the bar in one position and away therefrom in another position, and gripping members extending from each tab. 7

2. A clasp of the character described comprising a bar, a leaf member pivotally secured to said bar near the endsthereof, the expanse of leaf member between the points of pivotal connection being greater than the shortest distance between the same points, whereby the ends of the leaf may be resiliently forced toward and away from the bar and gripping members extending from the ends of the leaf.

3. A clasp of the character described comprising a bar, a leaf member pivotally secured to said bar near the ends thereof, the expanse of leaf member between the points of pivotal connection being greater than the shortest distance between the same points, whereby the ends of the leaf may be resiliently forced toward and away from the bar and members extending from the ends of the leaf in position to grip material inserted between the ends of the leaf and the ends of the bar.

' WILLIAM H. SCHOONMAKER. 

